Career and Education Opportunities for Health Information Systems Technicians in Lancaster, California

Health information systems technician career and educational opportunities abound in Lancaster, California. About 13,700 people are currently employed as health information systems technicians in California. By 2016, this is expected to grow 19% to 16,300 people employed. This is not quite as good as the nation as a whole, where employment opportunities for health information systems technicians are expected to grow by about 20.3%. In general, health information systems technicians compile, process, and maintain medical records of hospital and clinic patients in a manner consistent with medical, administrative, and regulatory requirements of the health care system.

The income of a health information systems technician is about $16 hourly or $34,290 annually on average in California. In the U.S. as a whole, their income is about $14 per hour or $30,610 annually on average. Compared with people working in the overall category of Healthcare Technical, people working as health information systems technicians in California earn less. They earn less than people working in the overall category of Healthcare Technical nationally. Health information systems technicians work in a variety of jobs, including: medical biller coder, hospital unit clerk, and medical records manager.

There are thirteen schools within twenty-five miles of Lancaster where you can study to be a health information systems technician, among 210 schools of higher education total in the Lancaster area. Health information systems technicians usually hold a high school diploma or GED, so it will take only a short time to learn to be a health information systems technician if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Health Information Systems Technician

Health Information Systems Technician video from the State of New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development

In general, health information systems technicians compile, process, and maintain medical records of hospital and clinic patients in a manner consistent with medical, administrative, and regulatory requirements of the health care system. They also process, maintain, and report patient information for health requirements and standards.

Health information systems technicians retrieve patient medical records for physicians or other medical personnel. They also protect the security of medical records to insure that confidentiality is maintained. Finally, health information systems technicians release data to persons and agencies in line with regulations.

Every day, health information systems technicians are expected to be able to see details at a very fine level of focus. It is also important that they articulate ideas and problems.

It is important for health information systems technicians to inspect records for completeness, accuracy and adherence to regulations. They are often called upon to formulate, design, maintain and operate a variety of health record indexes and storage and retrieval systems to collect, classify, store and analyze data. They also identify, compile, abstract and code patient data, using standard classification systems. They are sometimes expected to train medical records staff. Somewhat less frequently, health information systems technicians are also expected to compile and maintain patients' medical records to document condition and treatment and to furnish data for research or cost control and care improvement efforts.

Health information systems technicians sometimes are asked to process patient admission and discharge documents. They also have to be able to transcribe medical reports and oversee the department and supervise clerical staff, directing and controlling efforts of personnel in the medical records department. And finally, they sometimes have to release data to persons and agencies in line with regulations.

Like many other jobs, health information systems technicians must be thorough and dependable and have exceptional integrity.

Similar jobs with educational opportunities in Lancaster include:

Cardiac Technician. Conduct tests on pulmonary or cardiovascular systems of patients for diagnostic purposes. May conduct or assist in electrocardiograms, cardiac catheterizations, pulmonary-functions, lung capacity, and similar tests.

Medical Laboratory Technician. Perform routine medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May work under the supervision of a medical technologist.

Sonographer. Produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians.

Surgical Technician. Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeon's assistants, hold retractors, and help count sponges, needles, and instruments.

East Los Angeles College, 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez, Monterey Park, CA 91754-6099. East Los Angeles College is a large college located in Monterey Park, California. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 25,475 students. East Los Angeles College has 2 areas of study related to Health Information Systems Technician. They are:

Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician, less than one year, one to two year, and associate's degree which graduated one, fourteen, and eighteen students respectively in 2008.

Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/Coder, one to two year which graduated 48 students in 2008.

ITT Technical Institute-Torrance - Torrance, CA

ITT Technical Institute-Torrance, 20050 S. Vermont Ave, Torrance, CA 90502. ITT Technical Institute-Torrance is a small school located in Torrance, California. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 897 students and an admission rate of 44%. ITT Technical Institute-Torrance has an associate's degree program in Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician.

Antelope Valley College - Lancaster, CA

Antelope Valley College, 3041 West Ave K, Lancaster, CA 93536-5426. Antelope Valley College is a large college located in Lancaster, California. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 14,800 students. Antelope Valley College has an associate's degree program in Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician.

DeVry University-California - Pomona, CA

DeVry University-California, 901 Corporate Ctr Dr, Pomona, CA 91768-2642. DeVry University-California is a medium sized university located in Pomona, California. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 6,183 students and an admission rate of 88%. DeVry University-California has an associate's degree program in Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician which graduated nineteen students in 2008.

United Education Institute-Huntington Park Campus, 6055 Pacific Blvd., Huntington Park, CA 90255. United Education Institute-Huntington Park Campus is a small school located in Huntington Park, California. It is a private for-profit school with primarily less-than 2-year programs. It has 4,467 students and an admission rate of 92%. United Education Institute-Huntington Park Campus has a less than one year program in Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/Coder which graduated 222 students in 2008.

ITT Technical Institute-Sylmar - Sylmar, CA

ITT Technical Institute-Sylmar, 12669 Encinitas Ave, Sylmar, CA 91342-3664. ITT Technical Institute-Sylmar is a small school located in Sylmar, California. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 999 students and an admission rate of 58%. ITT Technical Institute-Sylmar has an associate's degree program in Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician.

Clarita Career College - Canyon Country, CA

Clarita Career College, 27125 Sierra Hwy Ste 329, Canyon Country, CA 91351. Clarita Career College is a small college located in Canyon Country, California. It is a private for-profit school with primarily less-than 2-year programs and has 193 students. Clarita Career College has a less than one year program in Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/Coder which graduated forty-seven students in 2008.

Baldwin Park Adult & Community Education - Baldwin Park, CA

Baldwin Park Adult & Community Education, 4640 Maine Ave, Baldwin Park, CA 91706-4221. Baldwin Park Adult & Community Education is a small school located in Baldwin Park, California. It is a public school with primarily less-than 2-year programs and has 1,400 students. Baldwin Park Adult & Community Education has a less than one year program in Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/Coder which graduated thirty-one students in 2008.

Rio Hondo College - Whittier, CA

Rio Hondo College, 3600 Workman Mill Rd, Whittier, CA 90601-1616. Rio Hondo College is a large college located in Whittier, California. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 17,505 students. Rio Hondo College has a two to four year program in Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/Coder.

Ladera Career Paths Training Centers - Los Angeles, CA

Ladera Career Paths Training Centers, 6820 La Tijera Blvd Ste 217, Los Angeles, CA 90045-1931. Ladera Career Paths Training Centers is a small school located in Los Angeles, California. It is a private for-profit school with primarily less-than 2-year programs and has 30 students. Ladera Career Paths Training Centers has a less than one year program in Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/Coder which graduated nine students in 2008.

ITT Technical Institute-San Dimas - San Dimas, CA

ITT Technical Institute-San Dimas, 650 W. Cienega Ave., San Dimas, CA 91773. ITT Technical Institute-San Dimas is a small school located in San Dimas, California. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 1,010 students and an admission rate of 48%. ITT Technical Institute-San Dimas has an associate's degree program in Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician.

Career College Consultants - Los Angeles, CA

Career College Consultants, 5015 Eagle Rock Blvd Ste 302, Los Angeles, CA 90041. Career College Consultants is a small college located in Los Angeles, California. It is a private for-profit school with primarily less-than 2-year programs and has 27 students. Career College Consultants has a less than one year program in Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/Coder.

Everest College-Reseda - Reseda, CA

Everest College-Reseda, 18040 Sherman Way Ste 400, Reseda, CA 91335-4631. Everest College-Reseda is a small college located in Reseda, California. It is a private for-profit school with primarily less-than 2-year programs. It has 223 students and an admission rate of 44%. Everest College-Reseda has a less than one year program in Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/Coder which graduated twenty-one students in 2008.

CERTIFICATIONS

Certified Professional Coder:
A Certified Professional Coder (CPC) is an individual of high professional integrity who has passed a coding certification examination sponsored by the American Academy of Professional Coders (the AAPC).

Certified Professional Coder-Payer:
A Certified Professional Coder-Hospital (CPC-H) is an individual of high professional integrity who has passed a coding certification examination sponsored by the American Academy of Professional Coders (the Academy).

Certified Professional Coder-Hospital :
A Certified Professional Coder-Hospital (CPC-H) is an individual of high professional integrity who has passed a coding certification examination sponsored by the American Academy of Professional Coders (the AAPC).

Certified Coding Associate:
American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) recognizes that the demand for coders has never been greater, and this need is expected to continue for some years to come.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Lancaster, California

Lancaster, California photo by File Upload Bot

Lancaster is situated in Los Angeles County, California. It has a population of over 145,469, which has grown by 22.5% over the last ten years. The cost of living index in Lancaster, 130, is far greater than the national average. New single-family homes in Lancaster cost $144,700 on average, which is far less than the state average. In 2008, two hundred ninety-six new homes were constructed in Lancaster, down from eight hundred six the previous year.

The three most popular industries for women in Lancaster are health care, educational services, and accommodation and food services. For men, it is construction, transportation equipment, and public administration. The average commute to work is about 32 minutes. More than 15.8% of Lancaster residents have a bachelor's degree, which is lower than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 5.6%, is lower than the state average.

The unemployment rate in Lancaster is 17.6%, which is greater than California's average of 12.3%.

The percentage of Lancaster residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 58.1%, is more than both the national and state average. The most prominent religious groups are the Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Convention and the LDS (Mormon) Church.

Lancaster is home to the Los Angeles County Animal Shelter Number 5 and the Lancaster City Hall as well as Mays Field and Mariposa Park. Shopping centers in the area include Antelope Valley Center Shopping Center, Antelope Valley Plaza Shopping Center and West Lancaster Plaza Shopping Center. Visitors to Lancaster can choose from Best Western Antelope Valley I, Aloha Motel and Bonaire Motel for temporary stays in the area.